Christmas at Home
Time for a flashback.
Somehow, you guys, it has been three years since we started a new holiday tradition: our at home portrait sessions. Pixels comes to YOUR HOUSE and we capture you “doing life” during the Christmas season. Let’s pause so that you can think of your favorite holiday comedy….
During the interim, we have shot many, many, many weddings, newborn portraits and first birthday photos, senior portraits, graduations, engagements and more documentary family portrait sessions than we could have anticipated. We’re now hooked on this type of photography – memoir, documentary, lifestyle.
We also had a son. And that changed everything. “Family” took on a new meaning. Lord knows that you don’t have to be parents to embrace family. Our friends, neighbors, coworkers, roommates and yes, blood relatives are family. My hope is that you will consider an at home holiday portrait session with anyone you consider beloved during the holidays this year or anytime in 2020. We’ll meet you at your place.
In the meantime, here’s a little look back at how we started, and why, from 2016.
Misty 1976
We’re doing something different with our holiday portrait sessions this year. We’re bringing them home. As in to YOUR home. It’s where you live and it’s where the magic and memories live too. Photographs tell the story and evoke all the memories of the season even as they are frozen forever in that specific time. It only made sense to take your family portraits in the place you call home.
Misty 1978 – Gifts for my girlie AND my rugged side.
Let’s be honest: isn’t half the fun of old family photographs saying, “remember that couch? remember that carpet?” Or “that was our first year in that house and you insisted on having a mini-tree in your room.” Every family on earth looks at past Christmas photos and has these conversations, in reverie and laughter.
Ryan 1980 – HOT WHEELS, BABY!!!! Santa WAS listening.
Misty 1981 – future Merlefest attendee and Official Photographer, thank you very much!
Ryan 1982 & 1986 with brothers and sister. LOVE the pjs. Sports, super heroes and Little House on the Prairie.
Nothing is more important during the holidays (or anytime for that matter) than family. I want a way to create a personal experience for each of our clients. I want to capture families gathered around trees with handmade ornaments, trees where all the fragile ornaments are at a height away from little fingers, stockings are personalized and tree toppers are those that have been passed through generations. I’d love to capture children in their Christmas PJs while they show me an ornament they made at school. Children years from now will recognize their surroundings in a photograph. What it looks like is different for every single one of our clients.
Misty 1986 – I was expressive. …still am.
Ryan 1983 – and his own hot wheels a few years later.
Ryan 1971 & 1981 – there’s a theme developing here……….
Misty 1990 & 1992 – “What? NO WAY!!”
Ryan 1985 & 1987
We hope you’ll take a moment to remember your own Christmas photos over the decades and consider that this will be easier than you might think, will be fun and SOOOOOOO worth it when you see the results. We know this is going to take some coordination, guys, but we’re in if you are. People start decorating as soon as mid-November and hope to get their cards out or gifts for relatives ordered soon after. As you plan your decorations and holiday festivities (family visits like Thanksgiving, for those who want to get the tree up and capture more than your immediate family), let us know so we can book the date and time and share fun ideas with you.
The fee of $125 is due when you make your reservation. We will provide 5 digital images for families with up to 3 children. This includes the printing rights along with the option to purchase prints, cards, and gifts. Pets and additional children or family members are welcome for an additional $25. Call 336-990-0080 to reserve or email inquiries to mail@pixelsonpaper.net.
We love family portraits whether they are set in the studio, the great outdoors, a specific location like the mountains or high country, or on our property in our outdoor portrait garden. Pixels on Paper photographs, engagements and weddings, brides, and special events and portraits of all kinds in our Wilkesboro, NC studio. We would be honored to meet with you, learn about you and your family and be a part of taking special portraits that will become, we hope, family heirlooms.
Christmas Mini Portrait Sessions – Booking Now
Close your eyes.
Breathe in deeply. Now exhale.
The holidays are around the corner and yes, 65″ HD TVs are indeed wonderful, but get a hold of yourselves. YOU, dear reader, are not a lunatic who tramples people on Black Friday.
YOU are tranquil. YOU are organized. And all you need to do is get some lovely Christmas portraits for your cards, for gifts, to frame for posterity and then you have one less thing to do until this time next year.
We’ve done everything. All you have to do is show up to our studio which we’ve decked in colors, fabrics, birds, tiny reindeer, Santas and other elements and themes that remember Charles Dickens and the Victorian age when Christmas was about small indulgences* and the warmth of the hearth. The tree is covered in ornaments, there are logs on the fire, garlands are hung, our bench is cozy and we’re ready for you.
*The kids are not included.
Some of our favorite pals have already shown up to have their portraits taken and we can remember when these children were so much smaller, but equally cute.
Deeply stained wood, burgundy, shades of deep green and gold make for drenched and timeless cards and gifts. We have only a few spots left, but we’ll do our best to fit in as many others as possible, so contact us and we’ll see you soon. Merry, merry wishes of love and joy to you all.
We love family portraits whether they are set in the studio, the great outdoors, a specific location like the mountains or high country, or on our property in our outdoor portrait garden. Pixels on Paper photographs, engagements and weddings, brides, and special events and portraits of all kinds in our Wilkesboro, NC studio. We would be honored to meet with you, learn about you and your family and be a part of taking special portraits that will become, we hope, family heirlooms.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License
All photos are ©2019 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
A Destination Wedding | Asheville, NC
This wedding is not only beautiful when you see it in prints, the day itself was magical. Elaine and Ryan are well-traveled movers and shakers who moved to Chicago from California, but wanted a special spot for their wedding day after 11 years together. They chose the Crest Pavilion in Asheville, NC, but also planned some special moments at the famous Biltmore Estate, the location of their rehearsal dinner, first look and private vows. It goes to show that when you visit a place you love, it sticks with you. Destination weddings don’t always take place on beaches in the Caribbean.
What made this day particularly amazing for Ryan and me was our ability to dodge every curve ball thrown at this special day. Two such moments were a sudden downpour while heading to Biltmore for a private portion of the ceremony, and the wedding officiant getting caught in bumper to bumper traffic making him nearly an hour late . Both caused various shuttling and last minute decision making. We thrived and so did this killer couple!
Elaine is a planner, but no one can control everything and this bride trusted us, our readiness and our judgment. I cannot tell you how much that means to us. When it was time to zig instead of zag, we all pivoted as a team and with great results.
While the weather was not ideal for the “first look” and other planned shots at the Biltmore Estate, this couple powered through and decided that they not only wanted to do a first look, but that they wanted to continue their plan to read their vows in private with just their wedding party. The rain that came, thankfully went, and while it was a bit foggy at first, the fog too lifted.
Elaine: “One of my favorite moments was when Ryan turned around to see me for our first look. It had been pouring and during our vows, we both cried.”
One thing that Elaine shared with us is how pleased they were to incorporate their sweet dog in the ceremony and how detailed their personally written private vows were. Over their 11 years together they had revisited their relationship, so over a decade later, their vows were indicative of a long relationship, a deep knowledge of each other and a true and lasting connection.
At the Crest Pavilion, the sun was out and surrounded by their families and friends from all over the country and world, they said I Do.
There is no denying the commitment these two have to each other, their pup Elle, their friends and family. Dolly, Ryan’s mom, wept while Elaine was putting on her wedding gown. They are all such a tight-knit and loving crew.
Elaine and Ryan’s gorgeous reception was the fulfillment of Elaine’s plans and dreams of bohemian chic and it was a PARTY! So many friends who had met through this couple over the years or felt as though they knew each other, would clump together to dance, laugh and swap stories or shared memories. Elaine and Ryan’s faces betrayed just exactly how loved they felt and how much fun they were having. As photographers, this is the best, because smiles and laughter are in every corner.
One hilarious comment from Elaine about their sendoff which included sparklers, a kiss and Ryan popping the top on a bottle of bubbly: “you don’t need to pop a bottle of champagne during the sparklers… just walk through; just kiss and dip!” Spoken like a happily married woman.
Congratulations to this absolutely amazing and BEAUTIFUL couple! We got home from your wedding, fell into bed and felt so completely happy for you both and so grateful that we could be a part of your day. You two nailed it and we loved every second!
We love family portraits whether they are set in the studio, the great outdoors, a specific location like the mountains or high country, or on our property in our outdoor portrait garden. Pixels on Paper photographs, engagements and weddings, brides, and special events and portraits of all kinds in our Wilkesboro, NC studio. We would be honored to meet with you, learn about you and your family and be a part of taking special portraits that will become, we hope, family heirlooms.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License
All photos are ©2019 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Newborn Photos of Baby Bowman
This little bundle wrapped in hunter green is Bowman and he was born to a wildlife enthusiast and sportsman father and outdoor loving mom. His name has special meaning and we’re pretty confident that he will grow into it. Our recent shoot with this family was unique and a lot of fun. Put a teeny new creature in the midst of outdoor gear and elements and the juxtaposition is magic.
We photographed parents Kendall and Nathan’s engagement portraits, her bridal session and their wedding, so when they called to talk about the birth of their first child, we jumped into action.
Knowing his name in advance (yes, I can keep a secret) allowed us to plan his shoot as Kendall was busy creating his nursery. She was keen to have browns, blues, grays and other earth tones in his nursery and at our shoot and we all worked to make that happen. The results are epic, creating a sense of the 19th century West, Teddy Roosevelt, hunting lodges, campfires and the wildness of being outdoors.
His delivery was a fairly easy one, so at one week old, he came with his hunting gear and his parents. Mom and Dad brought antlers, but also a nod to their ASU alma mater. We love a shoot with a theme, even subtle, but this one was truly about this kid and his parents love of the great outdoors.
Sweet Bowman, we hope to capture some images of you in years to come with a bow and quiver of arrows. Or just come by our studio and tell us about your adventures. We’re all ears and love you already.
We love family portraits whether they are set in the studio, the great outdoors, a specific location like the mountains or high country, or on our property in our outdoor portrait garden. Pixels on Paper photographs, engagements and weddings, brides, and special events and portraits of all kinds in our Wilkesboro, NC studio. We would be honored to meet with you, learn about you and your family and be a part of taking special portraits that will become, we hope, family heirlooms.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License
All photos are ©2019 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Ashleigh High School Senior
This lovely 18 year old is Ashleigh, and recently when we photographed her family in Stone Mountain, we also made time to get photos of her as a soon-to-be high school graduate. In May of 2020, Ashleigh will finish up at West Wilkes High School and head on to her next adventure. I love this young woman and I have been photographing her since she was about 3. I cannot believe that she’s graduating from high school, because I graduated HS with her mom!!!!! I have a two year old, Ashleigh’s mom Jenny has an 18 year old. We Gen-Xers all took our own paths and I love it.
One of the things I love about Ashleigh is that she knows her own mind and is perfectly happy to share her thoughts. She’s not rude, but she’s sassy and holds her own when ribbing her brother and parents, who were on the shoot with us. She is fun and funny and honest with herself. This is a girl I won’t need to worry about.
During the outdoor portrait session, Ashleigh had three or four wardrobe changes, and wore a boho style hat that she loved. She looks fab in it, if I say so myself.
Not all rising seniors or almost graduated students are happy with the options provided through their school and Ashleigh really wanted images that could work in a photo album, graduation invitations & announcements and especially on social media. We made sure that we captured loads for her to share, print and frame. Seniors: there are a lot of options out there and you have specific needs during this time in life. I promise, we’ve got you covered.
Congratulations, Girl! Ryan and I are so proud of you and hope you’ll keep letting us snap your photo long into the next chapters of your life.
We love family portraits whether they are set in the studio, the great outdoors, a specific location like the mountains or high country, or on our property in our outdoor portrait garden. Pixels on Paper photographs, engagements and weddings, brides, and special events and portraits of all kinds in our Wilkesboro, NC studio. We would be honored to meet with you, learn about you and your family and be a part of taking special portraits that will become, we hope, family heirlooms.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License
All photos are ©2019 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.